Special Olympics Zimbabwe (SOZ) held a workshop for its athletes and partners in line with its goals of including the intellectualy disabled in sport , Marondera recently.
The workshop dubbed “Empowerment Youth Exchange”, is the brainchild of Tinotenda Musariri and Selassie Chiwisa. Tinotenda Musariri who is not intellectually disabled partnered with Selassie Chiwisa who is intellectualy disabled (ID).
They received mentorship in Abhi Dhabi during the Summer games in March.
11 athletes and 10 partners attended the workshop not mentioning coaches, staff, caregivers and the media.
The athletes with ID from Kukura neShungu institute in Marondera and their partners without ID were taught on the importance of communication, an important tool for empowerment to take place.
The workshop was held concurrently with the 1st LEO Council Meeting.LEO club is a member of Lions international a charity organisation which is a partner of Special Olympics.
Musariri is a LEO which stands for Leadership, Experience and Opportunity. A Leo is between 12- 30 years whilst an older member from the age of 30 is referred to as a Lion.
Lion Wilson Chadzamira who spoke at the workshop highlighted that 40% of the message is received by what one hears whilst half of the message communicated is received by what one sees or gestures.
He emphasised on the goals of Empowerment Youth Exchange programme which are,# choose to include,#inclusion revolution and# unified generation.
His sentiments were echoed by SOZ national director Mrs Viola Musariri.
Tinotenda Musariri said he was motivated by his brother with ID to be a partner at SOZ.”Since Prince Edward school is sport driven, Headmaster Sowa saw the achievement done by Munya who was playing golf and he acknowleged that everyone was equal and Munya was allowed to wear a blazer showing his accomplishments in sports”, he said.
Munya was in a special class at Prince Edward when he opted to play golf which depicted that everyone should be included.
Selassie Chiwisa, an athlete with ID play golf and went to Marcus near China for a golf tourney in which he excelled.
They are planning to have their programme yearly and nationwide.Their aim is to remove discrimination and encourage people to socially include the IDs.
Chiwisa saw it an improvement to himself to play along with people without ID.
After the workshop, athletes from Kukura neShungu institute for the mentally and physically disabled played traditional games with their partners.
After lunch, 68 Leos, 11 athletes, 10 youths,3 coaches , 4 SOZ staff and 1 online writer totalling 100 people played volleyball in groups with the athletes proportionally divided .
The aim was to portray inclusiveness among the IDs and those without ID.
David Kanyai and Primrose Sivare applauded the Empowerment Youth Exchange programme.
“It is helpful as IDs are starting to have confidence like any other citizens and none is suffering from inferiority, said David Kanyai.
“Volunteers and partners come and play sport.Also surrounding schools come and play with our students and the latter become happy to compete with those without ID”, revealed Primrose Sivare.
24 year-old LEO club president Aisha Tsitsi Senderayi encouraged everyone to be inclusive when it comes to people affected with ID.”I was told that they would like to be called people with determination instead of people with disability.
This is so because when someone is disabled it does not mean they are now less than their able bodied counterparts.
The IDs also have talents that make them valuable like in sport, many are breaking new grounds”, she said.
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